Official blog of Taste Master Western Australia. I’m on the food-loving adventure of a lifetime, foraging my way through WA’s culinary and geographical awesomeness!

Australia Map

Taste Master Western Australia

Hot article

4 February 2014

A Million and One Things to do in The Great Southern

Hello there Taste Master fans, I’ve just come back from a motorhome exploration of the Great Southern region (Albany, Denmark, Mt. Barker and Walpole) and I tell you what, they’re not short of things to do down there!

The Great Southern is the largest and most diverse region within Australia’s South West. It has wild, untamed coastal scenery created by the sheer force of the Southern Ocean, idyllic seaside towns that remind me of Cornish fishing villages back home and national parks with some of the world’s rarest species like the endangered Malleefowl.

There’s also significant historical importance linked to the area, with King George Sound near Albany being the first European settlement in Western Australia, and the city of Albany itself being the departure point for the majority of ANZAC troops leaving for Europe in World War 1.

Now, do you remember at the beginning of this blog me saying they’re not short of things to do down here??! Well here’s a photo gallery of my first 24 hours in Albany, hold onto your hats.

The day started off at York Street Cafe with poached egg and smoked salmon balanced on a potato rosti…

..then it was off to The Naked Bean Coffee House with their magnificent in-house roaster..

..which produces great coffee, which looks like…

…this!

On a caffeine high it’s off to Emu Point and this strange looking mode of transportation…

…ah! That’s how it’s done! Pedal power which looks like…

…this!

Now for some lunch at The Old Marron Farm, but before lunch it was…

…a look round their aviary…

…and llama pen…

…before feeding the animals…

…and lessons on how to ride an off-road segway. Blimey, I’m ready for some food now, good job we ordered…

…The Farm House Feast For Two! Fresh, local and absolutely delicious.

Now it’s time for a tour of the soon to be opened ANZAC Interpretive Center…

…and a look at the stunning views of the Southern Ocean from Albany.

Next stop, the Great Southern Distillery…

…to sample the first legally produced and manufactured bourbon in Australia, Tiger Snake.

Now for some more spectacular scenery at the Torndirrup National Park. This is called The Gap, where waves crash in with tremendous ferocity…

…and this is Natural Bridge, sculpted by the crashing waves of the Southern Ocean…

…Torndirrup was the name of the Aboriginal clan that lived on the peninsula and to the west of what is now Albany.

The next morning it was up bright and early for the Albany Farmer’s Markets…

…which have a variety of stalls…

…and a variety of people…

…before moving onto the Bushfood Factory and Cafe who grow all native spices and foods in their garden…

…for use in their restaurant. That tasting plate was excellent, really delicately flavored with native herbs and spices.

Final stop was with Mike and Barb at Shipley’s Farm, who practise and promote ethical animal husbandry…

…320 sheep per acre of land per day…

…Mike moves the sheep to a new acre every day for fresh food…

…and the chooks and dung beetles clear up the mess and return it back into the ground…

Wow, what a mammoth introduction to the city of Albany, but it warranted it because there’s loads happening down here. Look how tired I got though.

PULL YOURSELF TOGETHER RICHARD, THERE’RE PEOPLE WATCHING!!

That’s better, back on an even keel…

…nope, lost it!

Everything will be OK if I put my head in this bucket.

Oh dear.

Prev

Next

Before heading off for the shire of Denmark (about 50km west of Albany) I’d like to say thanks to the Three Anchors restaurant on Middleton Beach for feeding us. We couldn’t find anything to eat due to a power cut affecting part of the city, but the Three Anchors managed to knock us up a great steak sarnie. Thanks folks.

Prev

Next

I’m starting to get a feel of the Great Southern region now. Amazing culinary experiences with renowned restaurants and wineries, great local seafood, farmer’s markets and regional events like Grapes and Gallops (wine meets equine). There’re self-drive gourmet tasting trails dotted everywhere and because of it’s mild climate, is home to the largest wine producing area by region in Australia.

It’s testament to the rich diversity of produce on offer in the area that Taste Great Southern, a festival of world-class gastronomic entertainment, marks its tenth anniversary this year. It’s a six week not-to-be-missed food fiesta in and around the vast Great Southern region, and I got to try many of the food trails, wineries and restaurants on my way to the charming town of Denmark, located on the banks of the Denmark River.

Vino foods at the Lake House

The Lake House restaurant, vineyard and cellar door

View of the vines at the Lake House in Denmark

Assessing the grapes at Singlefile Wines

Singlefile Wines have a great cellar door and restaurant

The finished product

Ross Lewis, the proprieter at Denmark Farmhouse and Duckett Mill Wines is a real character and should be on the telly…

Ross, along with wife Dallas, went back to Uni in Melbourne to study cheese making and now produce world class cheeses using milk from the local dairy

Boston Brewery is a restaurant, winery and brewery all rolled into one

I’ve been consuming so much food on my trip into the Great Southern that I fear I’ll soon need a doctor, and guess what Taste Master fans, my prediction came true! But it wasn’t a normal doctor mind you, but The Adventure Doctor, Dr. David Bomba from Out of Sight Tours.

He’s officially Western Australia’s top tour guide, picking up the accolade at the recent tourism awards held in Perth and he took me out to experience the wonders of West Cape Howe and the Bibbulmun Track.

Magnificent views of the coastline

Boat Harbour

The Bibbulmun Track. 1000km of hiking from the Perth Hills to the south coast town of Albany

Hidden Beach

Antarctica is 1000km due south

Prev

Next

I didn’t think I could fit anymore into this trip down south, but how wrong I was. You can read all about the town of Walpole and Operation:Dolphin in my next blog. Until then, safe travels and have fun.

Tips and Tricks

Getting to Australia’s Great Southern

Journey to and explore the region in a four to five day self-drive trip

Virgin Australia also operate flights into Albany

Where I stayed in the region

Middleton Beach Caravan Park, Albany

Ocean Beach Caravan Park, Denmark

There are brilliantly located caravan parks if you’re campervaning into the region like I did, or a huge array of accommodation options